Chapter 20: The Clever Ones

Having returned to the mansion, Ma Xun, who was eager to strive, began to rest once more. During this period, his complexion had grown fairer, and the hollows in his cheeks had filled out, finally giving him a hint of charm.

He Da hurried over to the study door. “Your Highness, the fine horses bestowed by His Majesty have arrived.”

Ma Xun’s interest was immediately piqued. “What kind of horses? Akhal-Teke?”

“There’s no Akhal-Teke here,” He Da explained, “they’re all common warhorses and riding horses. Warhorses are difficult to train and often have fierce temperaments, which aren’t suitable for Your Highness right now. The ones sent are gentle riding horses for you to practice your horsemanship.”

Ma Xun grew even more interested. “His Majesty taught me how to ride before, but I never got to practice further. I can ride donkeys, so horses shouldn’t be difficult.”

Preparing to practice, Ma Xun said, “The mansion is too small for this. Should we practice at the barracks or outside the city?”

“Outside the city,” He Da suggested. “The barracks are busy training now. Besides, you’re going to join the military. If those low-ranking soldiers see you can’t ride, they’ll surely mock you behind your back.”

Ma Xun retorted, “You were a soldier yourself. If you call them ‘low-ranking soldiers,’ what does that make you?”

He Da answered boldly, “I was a low-ranking soldier before. Now that I’m out of the army, what can they do if I call them that?”

Well, at least he’s not calling them ‘thieves in uniform.’ ‘Low-ranking soldier’ is civilized language by comparison.

Wang Cai was somewhat irritable; it was used to monopolizing the stable and was agitated by the presence of these ‘tall, fine horses’ nearby. Seeing Ma Xun patting their necks and stroking their faces, it grew even more anxious.

“Your Highness, Wang Cai understands humans,” He Da said with a broad smile. “It can’t run fast nor carry armored soldiers, but it’s quite good for daily riding.”

Ma Xun chuckled, “These horses can be kept elsewhere; Wang Cai is different after all.”

No one objected. Wang Cai was no mere beast of burden; it had accompanied Your Highness on the journey from Fujian back to Suzhou. The little donkey, just over a year old, had dragged Prince Xu’s coffin for more than six months. Both the emperor and empress were fond of this donkey.

Besides its usual noisy braying, it truly understood people, which naturally made everyone more fond of it.

Just as Ma Xun was leaving the mansion, Chang Mao, who often wandered the streets, spotted him and ran over. “Uncle, where are you going?”

“To practice riding,” Ma Xun smiled. “What, do you want to teach me?”

Fearless, Chang Mao immediately boasted, “Uncle, I’ve been practicing riding with my father since I was little. I can shoot arrows from horseback and hit targets fifty steps away!”

This ‘Young Master Chang’ was quite the eccentric, spoiled beyond measure. Calling him a second-generation heir was no exaggeration.

But seeing that Chang Mao was only about thirteen, Ma Xun didn’t mind much. “Go get a horse. I want to see what you’re really capable of.”

Then Ma Xun reminded him, “Make sure to tell your mother. Don’t run off without a word.”

Chang Mao dashed back into the mansion, clearly overjoyed.

When he returned, he indeed led a fine horse, accompanied by Chang Wan.

Chang Wan slightly bent her knees in greeting. “So, Uncle, you really are taking him out to practice riding.”

Chang Mao couldn’t help but complain, “Sister, I’m telling the truth. How could I lie to you and mother?”

“I’ll take him out. I’m not good at riding, but this boy claims his horsemanship is excellent—I want to see for myself,” Ma Xun said with a smile. “Besides riding and archery, does he have any other skills?”

Chang Wan explained, “Uncle, don’t be fooled. His horsemanship isn’t that great, and his archery is average. He’s good with a blade, though. Our family usually uses spears, but he’s stubbornly fond of knives.”

Ma Xun was intrigued. “Short knife or long blade?”

‘Knife’ was a general term. In the Ming dynasty, cavalry and infantry often carried waist swords. Though firearms were rapidly advancing, blades remained standard weapons.

“I like using long blades, preferably the Mazha sword,” Chang Mao said eagerly. “I have great strength. One day, I’ll cut through the Mongols—both horse and rider—with a single stroke. I’m also good with short blades; I use the horse-cutting knife.”

The horse-cutting knife supposedly evolved from the Tang dynasty’s ‘mo dao.’ By the Song dynasty, it was an infantry weapon—quite long, over three feet, roughly a meter in length.

Chang Wan looked at Chang Mao and said, “Since Uncle is willing to take you, you must behave. No recklessness, or you’ll be in trouble when you return!”

Chang Mao nodded repeatedly. His parents were reluctant to punish him, but his sister was merciless when she struck.

Ma Xun smiled at Chang Wan. “Later, please visit the Vice Censor’s residence and borrow some books for me. Focus on medical texts. If not, ask about agriculture and machinery.”

Chang Wan smiled, then asked, “Uncle, will your niece be able to borrow the books or not?”

Chang Mao immediately interrupted, boasting, “Sister, Uncle said to borrow them, so of course he’ll get them!”

“Shut up!” Chang Wan was quick with words and even quicker with her hand, slapping Chang Mao on the head. “If you don’t understand what you read, that’s one thing, but your brain doesn’t work either?”

Ma Xun thought for a moment. “You should ask if there are any remedies for external injuries or good methods for brewing alcohol.”

Chang Wan became serious. “Uncle, His Majesty has not lifted the ban on alcohol. Although there is some wine in the capital now, food supplies are still insufficient.”

During the wars that established the dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang imposed a strict alcohol ban to conserve grain. His general, Hu Dahai’s son, Hu Sanshe, made wine secretly and was executed by the emperor.

Ma Xun understood the rationale. “You should ask first. I would never secretly brew alcohol to make money.”

Chang Wan thought carefully, then smiled. “Then your niece must find out some leads. If it’s unclear, you’ll have to ask in person, won’t you?”

Ma Xun praised her, “No wonder you became the Crown Princess. Let’s do just that!”

Chang Wan was slightly embarrassed. “Uncle, I’m just doing this for you. Don’t tease me like that!”

Chang Mao was utterly confused. He understood every word his uncle and sister said individually, but together, it made no sense.

These clever people were too difficult to understand. Chang Mao decided not to ponder it; it wasn’t his field.

He followed Ma Xun out of the city, and they found a suitable open space to practice riding.

During a break, Ma Xun asked, “Do you go to the military camp often?”

“Yeah, I often go with the Second and Third Princes,” Chang Mao replied. “Uncle, I’ve even seen you at the Grand Hall. His Majesty requires me to study with the princes, but I can’t get used to it.”

Ma Xun chuckled maliciously. “Then I shouldn’t have brought you out riding, or you’d be stuck studying at the Grand Hall.”

To some, tutoring the Crown Prince was prestigious; to others, it was torment.

Ma Xun found it torturous, and so did restless Chang Mao.

Ma Xun asked again, “When did your father set out on campaign?”

Chang Mao answered, “He’s been away for years. The northern expedition was in October two years ago. The Duke of Xin was the general, and my father the deputy. Last year, they captured the capital and renamed it Beiping. The Yuan emperor fled north. This year, they’ve been in Shanxi and Shaanxi. I heard the Yuan emperor still harbors evil intentions.”

Ma Xun nodded, then asked, “How’s the war going now?”

Chang Mao boasted, “The Yuan emperor thought he had a chance, but the general and my father defeated him. My father advanced to Shangdu Kaiping. The general is now in Shaanxi. The Yuan forces are doomed!”

By now, the Yuan dynasty had retreated to the steppes. Shanxi was just pacified, now only Shaanxi remained. Facing Xu Da, the Yuan found themselves increasingly desperate.

As for Emperor Shundi of Yuan, after Beiping fell, he fled to Shangdu Kaiping. Chang Yuchun relentlessly pursued and captured Kaiping, annihilating the Yuan garrison and seizing tens of thousands of carts, thirty thousand horses, and fifty thousand cattle.

Chang Yuchun was not only a fierce general but a peerless commander, undefeated throughout his career.

With Xu Da and Chang Yuchun leading the charge, the Ming military surged forward. The so-called third pillar, Li Wenzhong, was also formidable but benefited greatly from Zhu Yuanzhang’s strong support.

For now, Ma Xun would continue practicing horsemanship; in the presence of these men, he was nothing more than a mere speck of dust.